Billiard-cue.



S. T. VARIAN.

BILLIARD CUE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1913.

LQQQA 9w a ented Apr. 7, 19M

%% ATTORNEYS dwme Tm lamdmia SAMUEL T. VARIAN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

BILLIARD-CUE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

Application filed July 31,1913. sci-m1 No. 782,197.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, SAMUEL T. VARIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Billiard-Cues, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to billiard cues, and is designed'for use by persons beginning to learn the game of billiards, or those not expert at such game. One of the most difiicult shots to execute in the game of billiards is that known as a mass shot, which requires a sharp stroke with the cue held nearly or quite perpendicular causing the cue-ball to return in a straight line or to move in a circular direction depending upon the part of the ball struck by the cue.

Not only is this shot diflicult to master, but when attempted by beginners, or those not expert at the play, there is great danger of injury to the cloth in consequence of the tip end of the cue coming violently in contact therewith, often resulting in tearing the cloth to such an extent that it is unfit for further use. This fact is so well recognized, that in many billiard rooms, the mass shot is prohibited except by experts, and the object of my present invention, which is hereinafter fully described, is to provide a billiard cue by means of which the mass stroke may be executed by beginners or players not expert at the game without danger of injury to the cloth of the table, or to the tip end of the cue.

In the accompanying drawingFigure 1 is an elevation showing my invention in the position for making a mass stroke. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position after the stroke has been made. Fig. 3 is a section on the line at m of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an elevation showing a modification in the support of the sleeve.

Similar reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

1 indicates a one which may be of the ordinary character.

2 indicates a loose, but closely fitting elongated sleeve surrounding the guide end of the cue, and provided with two lingitudinal slots 8, one on each opposite side. This sleeve 2 may be of metal or any other suitable material.

4 is a stop pin passing through the one 1 and projecting slightly on opposite sides thereof and within the slots 3, in the sleeve 2. 5 represents a finger-grip integral with, or securely attached to the sleeve 2 at its lower end. This grip may be of any desired shape or character.

6 is the tip at the striking end of the cue.

In operating the device, the player grasps the cue l, at a point above the sleeve 2, with one hand, and with the other hand holds the sleeve at such a distance above the table bed 7, that when the one 1 is forced down through the tube striking the ball 8, the pin 4 coming in contact with the bottom of the slot 3 will arrestthe downward movement of the one and prevent its tip coming into contact with the cloth 9.

Fig. 1 illustrates the position of the cue when the player is about to make the shot, and Fig. 2 its position after the shot has been executed.

The sleeve 2 may be held in position by grasping the grip 5 with one hand, or this member may be dispensed with and the sleeve be held by the fingers of one hand taking hold below the slots 3 in which case it is preferable that the outer surface of the sleeve at this point he knurled or roughened, to prevent slipping, as shown in Fig. 4.

For the use of amateurs in their first lesson or so, and if desired, I provide the sleeve 2 with a leg 10, having at its free end a shoe 11 to rest upon the table cloth and by which means the sleeve is positively held the proper distance above the table top to prevent the cue-tip coming into contact with the cloth when a mass shot is made. The bottom of the shoe 11 is preferably covered with a piece of billiard cloth 12 or other suitable substance, to prevent injury to the tablecloth. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows the cue in its extreme downward position.

The leg 10 may be made integral with the sleeve 2, but I prefer that it be detachable, so that the same one may be used without it, as it is seldom necessary to use the leg. I have shown the leg 10 as attached to the flange 13, of the sleeve 2, by screws 14, but it may be removably secured in any suitable manner.

No player can excel at the game of billiards until he has mastered the mass shot, and by the use of my invention a beginners timidity or fear of injuring the cloth in attempting such shot is entirely overcome, and

consequently a little practice will give him the confidence and skill necessary to execute such shots Without assistance.

My invention is useful alike for teachers, or for self instruction, and is also adapted for use in public billiard rooms, or private residences.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for use in executing mass strokes, comprising a cue, a sleeve surrounding a portion of the cue, and means for limiting the movement of the cue Within said sleeve.

2. A device for use in. executing mass strokes, comprising a cue, an elongated sleeve surrounding a portion of the cue and ing a portion of the cue and provided With a longitudinal slot, 2. stop-pin secured to said one and projecting into said slot, and means for supporting said sleeve in a predetermined' osition.

Signed E SAMUEL '1. VARIAN.

Witnesses:

BERTHA M. ALLEN, J. B. LEBLANO.

y me this 25th day of July, 1913. 

